Construction projects and renovations can be exciting! They promise that necessary changes are right around the corner. However, the excitement does not always overshadow the unwanted side effects. Dust and debris abound in a construction zone and can harm your health. No matter how hard you try, keeping dust contained in one area can seem to be impossible in construction. Once airborne, it can travel throughout your facility and may be breathed in by those in the building. As a facility manager, you know this is an unwanted result of construction. However, we have a few solutions to help you minimize the risk of dust contamination.
During a construction project, dust can result from multiple actions. Dust can be made of plaster, sawdust, fiberglass, or mold spores. When a material needs to be cut, demolished, or altered, it can produce any of these tiny particles. On top of that, after all the initial mess, final touches can still send harmful particles into the air. Paints, solvents, glues, and cleaning products can release toxic, volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These harmful particles can cause serious health concerns and may even stay in the air without proper filtration.
Preventing dust from negatively affecting your facility is essential during a construction project. Simple steps like opening windows for ventilation and establishing a thorough cleaning routine are great places to start, but implementing other methods will be needed to ensure all the tiny dust particles are eliminated. Utilizing an air purifier for dust is one of the most surefire ways you will promote clean air in your facility. A High-Efficiency Particular Air (HEPA) filter traps most airborne particles, including dust and debris. Its efficiency rate is 99.97% of all particles at .03 microns or smaller, making it an excellent option for facilities of any kind.
If you manage a medical facility, you know the people coming to the building are potentially unwell and immunocompromised. It only makes sense that these individuals in need of care are increasing the amount of contaminants in the air in your building. It’s critically important to implement air purifiers for dust to reduce air contaminants and prevent disease transmission.
In buildings where ventilation might not be optimal or where outdoor air pollution is a concern, air purifiers can act as an additional line of defense, helping to create a healthier indoor environment for occupants. This is especially crucial for people with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues.
What happens if you don’t use air purifiers for dust control in a medical facility? First, you will see poor indoor air quality (IAQ). For people affected by respiratory issues, breathing in dust and other contaminants can cause or worsen discomfort, injury, or even death. The accumulation of dust is damaging to many kinds of sensitive equipment as well. Dust can clog ventilation systems, reduce the efficiency of HVAC systems, and cause premature wear and tear on machinery. Depending on the kind of dust in the air, dust can pose a fire hazard. If the dust is combustible, any sparks could lead to a fire or explosion.
So, how can you get rid of the dust in the air? You can wipe down surfaces with a damp cloth to remove dust. You can keep bedding and furniture clean with frequent washing and vacuuming. However, the most effective way to remove dust from the air is to add air purifiers to your facility. Air purifiers for dust use filters and other technology to trap dust and other impurities, preventing them from remaining in the air inside your building.
Buildings of all purposes eventually face renovation or new construction for additions. To keep those who work in the building and those who are visiting safe, you must have an air scrubber for construction dust. Construction dust, in particular, is dangerous to breathe in. Working in construction has been linked to an increased risk of COPD, emphysema, asthma, lung cancer and other respiratory issues. Certain dust types are also considered an environmental hazard.
To keep everyone safe, implement air purifiers that catch dust and debris. This protects not only the construction workers but also those who work in the building and those who are ill and coming to the building to be seen and feel better.
If you are serious about the health of those in your facility but need help determining where to begin, we understand! The path toward pure air amid construction can be overwhelming. Here, we highlight three options to help you obtain clean, breathable air.
When the construction zone is not entirely isolated from the rest of the building, dust particles open the door to come and go as they please. One of the first and most crucial steps to eradicating dust contamination is to close off the construction zone from the rest of the facility. Airflow into the area is essential, but you want to limit how much air travels. Keeping the construction zone contained is one of the most critical steps.
A customizable wall barrier can be a great option to help contain dust and debris in one area. STARC Barriers are airtight walls that can be configured into any shape to prevent dust from freely traveling. They are more durable than other options and can be reused during a future project. Its quick installation makes it a great option if you need a last-minute solution for dust contamination.
A product like AnteRoom will perfect fit if you want total room isolation. Setting up this small room along the doorway mitigates the risk of work dust and related contaminants from traveling out of the construction zone. However, this system also serves as an air purifier for dust with external negative air machine adapters on either side of the enclosure.
Having an air purifier for construction dust is ideal. This equipment will work efficiently to eliminate harmful particles that adversely affect people's health. When you establish methods that will not only isolate the harmful particles but completely clean the air in the facility, you will be on the right path toward good indoor air quality.
Air purifiers utilize a filter and a fan to move the air through the equipment and trap harmful particles. Circulating the air can keep air flowing through the system. Not only do these devices refresh stale air by ensuring proper ventilation, but they also ensure that only clean air is released back into the facility. However, a standard air purifier for construction dust may need more to keep the air circulating in a large room.
When an air purifier for dust utilizes a HEPA air filter, it automatically upsets the game. HEPA filters can deeply and thoroughly clean the air by targeting tiny particles that can seep through other purification systems. At least 99.97% of size 0.3 microns can be captured by a medical-grade HEPA filter, making it a valuable asset to any construction zone. These filters utilize synthetic fibers to capture the tiniest particles and keep them from reentering the air. While an air purifier for construction dust is a great idea, not all systems will produce the same indoor air quality. If you want the best air quality, you must ensure your air purifier utilizes a HEPA filter.
There are multiple health hazards in a construction zone. With air quality that can slip underneath the radar, it is crucial to take the proper precautions to disinfect the air. While surfaces are essential, too, the air can hold numerous particles that will remain unseen and could be left untreated.
Another feature that helps clean construction dust from the air is an air purifier with a UVC light. There are many benefits of germicidal UVC light air purifiers. The powerful light in the air purifiers and other air quality devices kills and destroys viruses in the air. Another kind of UVC light device is called far-UVC light. These light fixtures can be used in hospitals, doctors' offices, schools, airports, airplanes, and other public spaces and can provide a powerful check on seasonal influenza and pandemics.
If disinfection is an end goal, UV light technology can destroy pathogens smaller than .3 microns. Cleaning the air up to 99.9999% in less than a second is highly effective and can reduce the chance of people getting sick from harmful airborne particles. UV disinfection is a sound investment for any facility experiencing construction.
By taking these steps, you can ensure that the air quality in your facility will be clean and safe to breathe during a construction project. If you want to go the extra mile, you can combine any of these methods to ensure that no dust will escape the construction zone and compromise those in your facility. Conducting an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) before any renovation, construction, or repair project can help you prepare for potential hazards. Download our Infection Control Risk Assessment today to help you identify the construction type and ways to prevent infection!